Relegation-threatened Valencia “do not feel pressure,” says Corberán ahead of Real Madrid clash | OneFootball

Carlos Corberán’s Valencia face one of the toughest tests of the season on Sunday, as they welcome a high-flying Real Madrid to the Mestalla.

The visitors will be looking to close the gap to Barcelona after Hansi Flick’s side beat Mallorca on Saturday, while Valencia are also in desperate need of a victory at the other end of the table as they sit just one point above the relegation zone.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Corberán insisted that his players “do not feel pressure” ahead of such a mammoth fixture.

“We feel responsibility, and a desire to achieve positive results. From day one, I’ve felt tremendous support, and I reciprocate that with commitment, passion, and dedication. When we get results, we’re satisfied; when we don’t, we work to turn things around and transform that frustration into results,” he explained.

Corberán, who joined Valencia in 2024 after a two-year stint at West Bromwich Albion, emphasised the importance of working on a game-by-game basis and suggested that “every game we play should be the biggest game of the year.”

“The Real Betis game was the most important one we had at the time. The Athletic Club game too, and now the Real Madrid game. When this one is over, there won’t be a more important game than the Levante UD game. We also expect a full house at Mestalla. Luckily, the support of our fans is constant, no matter the match. Our opponents experience that when they come to Mestalla.

“We want the Mestalla to continue being a difficult and uncomfortable ground for Real Madrid to come to. It’s down to our desire and what we show. It’s a ground where the more you give, the more you get back.”

The 42-year-old, who grew up just 30 minutes away from the Mestalla in the small town of Xest, also spoke about the differences he has noticed since Álvaro Arbeloa took charge of Real Madrid last month.

“You can always see nuances that differentiate coaches, but the essence is the same: dynamism, speed, transition, attacking… they are an extremely dangerous team in open spaces and on the counter-attack. That’s part of their game and their identity.

“For me, with Arbeloa, even though he hasn’t been there long, there are nuances in defensive organisation in their own half that make the team a little different to before. They are a team that, in addition to pressing, are capable of defending with a structured formation in their own half.”

Valencia v Real Madrid gets underway at 20:00 GMT on Sunday 8th February.